FIRST: New Hampshire organization supports youth robotics programs

Aria with a staff member from the FIRST Robotics Competition

Last month, FIRST New Hampshire, a local organization focused on connecting classroom lessons to real-world applications through hands-on STEM experience, hosted a robotics competition at the University of New Hampshire.

FIRST New Hampshire is part of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), a nonprofit robotics organization. FIRST was founded by inventor, Dean Kamen, more than 30 years ago for kids ages four through 18 who like building, robotics, and engineering.

Kamen invented the Segway and produces medical devices through his company, DEKA, but says FIRST is his favorite invention and that it creates inventors. “Young people are willing to work really hard in sports because they can see themselves get better. Classrooms don't give you that sense of excitement about learning math or physics. So, I said, what if I made inventing or using technology to solve problems a sport?”

FIRST attracts thousands of students every year and is open to whoever wants to give robotics a shot. John Mannisto, a volunteer mentor for a team in NH, said, “FIRST inspires kids to find the best in themselves.”

How does a robotics challenge help kids?

FIRST robotics challenges are unique in that teams participate in “coopetitions”. By combining competition and cooperation, teams actually collaborate in addition to playing against each other. For example, in one round, you might be playing against a team, and the next you might be collaborating with that team to compete against a different team. While kids work together, they can help each other build confidence.

Aria learning about teams and their robots

FIRST from a kid’s point of view

“It’s a lot of time on the computer, but it’s fun to see how everything comes together from two shapes,” said Isaac Borge, High School Senior from Manchester Central High School. Isaac has participated in FIRST since he was a freshman and is the Computer Aided Design (CAD) student on the team.

Kids use their unique abilities, which include programming, software development, geometry, algebra, accounting, physics, chemistry, experimentation, and even just being able to drive a robot well to make their robots work.
Dave Purcell, a sophomore at Bedford high school and Safety Captain, said, “I used to love taking things apart and seeing how they worked when I was younger. Robotics is engineering adjacent.”

What’s next for FIRST?

“The world needs a lot more creative problem solvers – your generation will inherit all sorts of problems—global issues, clean water, food, cyber security, healthcare,” said Kamen. “Almost all of them are going to need new and better technologies to solve them.”

Kamen would like to see students, parents, teachers, principals, business leaders support FIRST and to see FIRST become bigger than the Olympics and the Super Bowl combined.

If you are interested in learning more and how to start FIRST at your school, visit FIRST.